Andrew Doyle: Free speech absolutism, Elon Musk, and Titania McGrath | SpectatorTV

This week on Marshall Matters, Winston speaks with Comedian, author and TV host Andrew Doyle. They discuss his book Free Speech and Why it Matters, Elon Musk, Twitter, Andrew’s creation Titania McGrath, Stonewall the comedy industry and much more.
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[@rigilchrist]

We are very fortunate in the UK to have Andrew Doyle and Douglas Murray.

[@thedativecase9733]

Douglas Murray has gone off to live in the USA.

[@richalderson6069]

Andrew is as smart as it gets! I always look forward to any podcast he does.

[@darianbalcom8777]

But he is saying "trans rights"! No one is trans and no one is lacking any rights. "Trans" only means stripping women of their rights. (well, and abusing children, and a whole lot of other awful things)

[@richalderson6069]

@@darianbalcom8777 I think he just says it as a convenient way of moving the conversation forward, after all, it seems everything's about "trans rights" in the world of woke today apart from BLM.

[@nigelralphmurphy2852]

In the world of stupidity anyone who can put two words together is hailed as a genius.

[@claudiotagini]

@@nigelralphmurphy2852 meaning what? Or are you talking about yourself, perhaps?

[@irisElee]

I love Andrew. He's THE perfect gentleman. Smart, elegant, witty, honest, honorable, courageous, ad infinitum... Algjör draumaprins."

[@nikhtose]

Andrew is a cultural icon and hero. Thanks for having him. Titania remains a reliable woke quote queen I still call on. Example: "For those of you who think men are better than women in sports, why is it the case that Rachel MacKinnon [male transgender bicyclist] only started winning medals after he became a woman?" Hasn't aged, that one.

[@doctorcrankyflaps1724]

I love Andrew Doyle. Up there with Douglas Murray's clear thinking and humour.

[@doraldeddy1836]

Andrew Doyle, you are an interesting listenable young man. Calm, sensible and coherent. Thank you sir for that. Best wishes from the wilds of Cornwall👍👍👍👍👍

[@lonewolfandcub668]

It's the most important thing, without free speech nothing else matters.

[@TheAtheist22]

Totally agree with you.

[@hittitecharioteer]

I agree ☝🏻 🇮🇪

[@julianshepherd2038]

That's because you've never watch your child starve.

[@elkpaz560]

@@julianshepherd2038 Imagine the causes of economic/political actions that caused the starvation could not be discussed/exposed. Imagine you are not allowed to say your child is starving - because of the implied criticism.

[@ratusbagus]

@@julianshepherd2038..... and you have?

[@tipple58]

Andrew is super-bright, articulate, coherent, and sane. Great interview, chaps.

[@mataform]

Andrew the voice of reason. Always a joy to listen to him. Courteous, witty, courageous.

[@paulwally9007]

That digression about Andrew's discomfort with the rainbow flag (up to the 12 minute mark) was one of the most fascinating monologues I've heard on the internet.

[@nelsonmcduff5218]

I feel the same way as Andrew when I see the rainbow flag. It used to make me happy to see it. Now I cringe.

[@DoggieFosters]

@@nelsonmcduff5218 As a supremely terfy terf who came out 30+ yrs ago, I use the 🏳️‍🌈 in my Twitter name very purposely to undercut the claims of the force-teaming LGBTQIA2SPK+++ genderists on the platform. But my god, seeing it online or in the wild immediately puts me on guard. More often than not now it means "I'm a homophobe & woman-hater." The new "Progress" flag _definitely_ signals that.

[@MarkMackenzievortism]

@@nelsonmcduff5218 Agreed. I don't just cringe, I feel like I'm walking past a pub that has Millwall supporters drinking outside of it.

[@TheAtheist22]

Free Speech needs no explanation. It's all in those 2 beautiful words.

[@nonfictionone]

I disagree. I think if people knew what it really means for society they wouldn’t give it away so easily.

[@paulglover7486]

The real problem of free speech is it should be for everyone not just the people who scream the loudest... and the problem isn't free speech its transparency in governments at high levels, otherwise we wouldn't have conspiracies

[@julianshepherd2038]

Free speech is largely controlled by those that own the media. You can shout but no one will hear you. You need powerful friends.

[@nelsonmcduff5218]

Andrew is 100% right when he says that the majority of people think gender identity theory is rubbish. Marshall should get out into the suburbs and talk to regular working and middle class people if he wants to find out what most people think.

[@MH-il1lk]

What do most people think?

[@nelsonmcduff5218]

@@MH-il1lk Read it again. I said it in the first sentence.

[@MH-il1lk]

@@nelsonmcduff5218 How did you come to that conclusion?

[@nelsonmcduff5218]

@@MH-il1lk By talking to people LOL

[@MH-il1lk]

@@nelsonmcduff5218 You came to that conclusion by talking to a few people? LOL Yeah, you're not someone to quote. Not the best way to come to a conclusion. Learn to research.

[@Steve157Oh]

Great interview. Andrew Doyle is as interesting and entertaining as always

[@hittitecharioteer]

Intelligent and dignified.

[@sue.F]

Sir Roger Scruton - non-discrimination has become a new and insidious kind of discrimination.

[@GLOKD]

I see Andrew Doyle, I click play.

[@adrianmeyer2157]

Always a pleasure listening to Andrew speak, nice one for that.

[@davida2653]

Great, brave and sensible man is Andrew

[@thanksfernuthin]

The girl who played Titania McGrath in the live show was sublime. She handled the material so perfectly I can't imagine anyone else doing anything near that level of performance. (Oh, no. I have a crush on Titania McGrath!)

[@christinawheeler1253]

Without Freedom there's no choice Without Choice There is freedom.

[@Ciderpunk-jj5es]

Andrew Doyle is one of the very best at expressing what our current political climate is and why its harmful. Great man. You were wrong about Family Guy, btw. It succumbed.

[@rogerflack415]

Andrew Doyle just articulates his case so well. Agreed on the Rainbow flag. It's even scarier when it is attached to a police uniform or police vehicle.

[@louiseford8678]

“Punch people in the name of tolerance” made me laugh out loud

[@warner476]

I think comedians may save us. Thank you for sharing your voice!

[@Josie545]

Excellent interview 👍

[@anguswayman9014]

Andrew, completely agree with you, you make so much sense. Keep fighting the good fight, we are in dire need of people of your caliber.

[@ellie698]

Great to see Andrew Doyle 😎👍

[@matthewyoung1541]

Words of infinite wisdom as ever from Andrew. While said with intelligence, humility and honesty.

[@blackmac57]

Great content!

[@Rogerholberg]

Boy, did Andrew come up with le mot juste for what is driving this - hysteria. I don't know what ignited and is sustaining it but it is clearly hysteria about a very broad range of issues. I'd to hear Andrew's take on what broke so many people's minds at approximately the same time in the anglosphere.

[@brianfinnegan9700]

very intelligent man

[@sue.F]

The problem with “Titania McGrath” is that it’s hard to laugh at the satirising of people who are already doing a really good job of it on themselves. One day we may laugh about it all, but for now, it’s more like fingernails screeching down a chalkboard.

[@GlyndwrMeredith]

I think that’s ‘Your problem’, not ‘The problem’.

[@thedativecase9733]

@@GlyndwrMeredith I thought Titania's "slut walk" photo was hilarious!

[@Vanessa-lf2jn]

I hope more and more people rise up and push back!!

[@boilingfrog9510]

People need to be encouraged to speak their mind on any and all issues that they feel are important no mater how disgusting and reprehensible their views are. How else are you going to know who the lunatics are? which ones you need to warn your children about. People who openly present themselves as hate filled, abusive, overtly violent and physically threatening individuals who wouldn't think twice about beating you into a coma just for looking at them the wrong way. This can be a clear signal to anyone around them to stay the hell away from them and warn others to do the same. But there is a small group of people within society that are highly adept at acquiescing to the will of the community, who appear as upstanding, caring, empathetic righteous souls who are utterly self less and would happily put the needs of others before their own, who would show the same sympathy to a stranger as they would for a member of their own family, yet in their hearts nothing could be further from the truth. Their called Psychopaths. A world without free speech is a open world playground for Psychopaths to roam free unnoticed and unchallenged, a safe space if you will.

[@Gingerblaze]

A safe space for psychopaths

[@craigd7695]

Great interview

[@alisonfayers-kerr9089]

Thanks for that. Reminds me that there’s still room for proper debate, free speech (bla bla bla) and some good send-ups! Seriously funny.

[@Ed_Downunder]

Free speech means: Nobody is entitled to not be offended. When someone claims to be offended and the police are obliged to investigate, expect social pushback.

[@DonnaBrooks]

8:33 This is EXACTLY my experience. I'm lesbian, and had a whole slew of rainbow clothing & accessories to wear or use, bumper stickers, etc. I sometimes participated in Pride. Now I wouldn't ever want to wear that rainbow gear! I'd like to see there never be another Pride parade in countries where LGB people already have equal rights. If I see Stonewall supports a candidate (even here in the States), I'm LESS likely to vote for them. I experience emotions ranging from cringing to throwing poo (LOL!) when I see the rainbow flag or variations of it, or hear the letters of the Alphabet Mafia with their forced teaming of people who have nothing to do with sexual orientation and are even hostile toward LGB people! To me, the rainbow flag is now a symbol of virtue signaling, of suppression of how the TQ+ jihad has taken over our institutions & turned then against us & against their original purpose, attacking anyone who isn't loyal to their ideology. So that statement by Andrew really resonated with me. Now the rainbow flag puts me on alert because I suspect that the people displaying it are pandering to the Identitarian Left and gender identity ideology, making it a place where I would be very UNwelcome today!!

[@corny5128]

It becomes impossible to censor speech because you always come face to face with the problem of who censors the censors. Those people who wish to censor speech, are those who want their particular speech/viewpoint to dominate an issue, they do not wish any debate to occur.

[@uberwayz]

I hate how the word "transphobic" is now being used by even intellectuals, like its a real thing and has any legitimacy in objective reality.

[@minkyfran8307]

I just point out if I’m transphobic, they are misogynists , usually shuts them up

[@Wendyj55]

You've got a point

[@JayJay-wg5ex]

What you're saying is very similar to the Vision of the annointed the Thomas Sowell book

[@donathandorko]

Sound dropped for a sec near the end, other wise great interview.

[@annemarieforprimeminister8020]

Spectator Anne Marie Waters is a fan of Titania McGrath. Let's see her interviewed.

[@januszostrowski7264]

I won't know the fools without free speech.

[@phwbooth]

Dr Andrew Doyle, no less....

[@ellie698]

George Orwell and 1984 has been quoted and referenced so much in recent years. And I've been mentioning Kafka a lot increasingly recently now too! 😲

[@douglasfreeman3229]

I was having a discussion with a phone operator about some disability benefit issue and I said how the situation was like something from Kafka. She hadn't heard of Kafka and became very defensive when I laughed about it. In fact she became very annoyed and quite aggressive. Of course, really she was angry with her own ignorance. I felt so smug after the call.

[@ellie698]

@@douglasfreeman3229 It wouldn't even occur to me to mention Kafka to a random person. I'm afraid I automatically assume they won't have a clue what I'm talking about. I only bring up his name to people I know will understand the reference. An ever reducing number of folk 🙄

[@sharonvass8700]

thank god someone who talks truth

[@danbradbury1183]

Stern intellect amazing 😉

[@theohopkins1903]

Is Titania McGrath standing as a Green Party candidate again in the local elections on Thursday?

[@parisayiomamitis2683]

Clarity of thought

[@dcquillanstone]

Apparently this interview been out for a while :-), with that said... Mr Doyle's reference to "identity quakes" is another way to say "paradigm shifts", avoided like the plague by most people. The emotions or sensations encountered upon challenges to identities or paradigms are often misinterpreted as conscience made aware or some morality alert oppose to mere uncomfortableness per psychological defensive mechanisms. To discern between the two can be difficult, of course, when identities or paradigms are largely founded upon emotions or sentiments as commonly demonstrated throughout modern societies, rather than logically grounded in much "study, ponder, labor" thus always prepared to challenge oneself by the process. To exemplify, emotional or sentimental reactions to a challenge are without exception due to an inability to clearly, concisely, consistently articulate principle, morality, ethic, logic to others as well to oneself (more importantly), that define then underline identity or paradigm, therefore the emotionally unwanted, sentimentally unaccepted quake or shift. Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice. Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

[@theohopkins1903]

Titania had me fooled for the first six or so tweets. Then I twigged it...

[@standemancini]

Love Andrew Doyle but that interviewer is hard work

[@michaelweber5702]

Andrew , On Twitter freedom of speech to my mind should mean no censoring of anything , no censoring , period ...

[@tedbo1819]

What happened to Will Franken? Would love to see him on Comedy Unleashed again.

[@emmalouie1663]

Hey, this is a new interview I've not seen before. :) Dude, Marshall, do a collaboration with Tom MacDonald.

[@koshobai]

Shout-out to Marshall Mathers aka Eminem, nothing to do with this video but I just had to give him some love when I saw "Marshall Matters" on the thumbnail

[@douglasfreeman3229]

That's exactly what I was thinking!

[@chriscoffee9070]

What an interesting thought about the rings in the trees in the garden of Eden, reminds me of the killer question about why God, when he created the earth 10,000 years ago, decided to bury fossils in carefully stratified layers and bestow on them just the right amount of carbon to trick heretical 20th century scientists into thinking they were millions of years old.

[@MrBSmizzle]

Annoying audio as Winston’s gesticulations kept creaking the table - please fix for next time. Good convo.

[@williamhaddock1838]

Andrew is correct when he says most people agree with what he is saying 38:45 and you answer your own query Winston, you said in the world you come from, that is exactly the problem MOST people don’t come from the world you come from. Andrew was courteous in suggesting Winston might be right, but Winston is definitely not right.

[@Gingerblaze]

10:07 - 14:00 excellent clear accurrate observations. "Gender identity is irrelevant when it comes to medicine". Precisely!

[@jackrainbow560]

Yes indeed. Be careful of expecting a lot from Musk. He's interested in building and creating positive things and that includes discourse. But the real challenge is when people have views and make statements that he considers "extreme". I fear he has a naive understanding (although I hope I'm utterly wrong) which would allow him to justify, at least to himself, the canceling of certain views.

[@juanfelipemv]

Free speech absolutism is not being advocated here. The advocates of free speech are not saying you can say whatever you want, they are advocating that you can say what it is allowed by the law, meaning everything but speech that can "incite imminent lawless action" or "make or distribute obscene materials".

[@moesheen654]

I feel it's implied that if the actual law is broken then sure it should be stopped. The problem is what law in what land. Twitter reach is only limited by the internet. So is it regulated by the law of USA, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China or NewZealand. International is not a real thing, just a dream. I get your point but the waters are pretty muddy.

[@mocheeks76]

No wonder Jonathan Pie was so sharp in the early days. And then he 'woke up'...

[@jaym5925]

If you need a sound engineer to get rid of all those elbow table noises hit me up! I’m a podcast editor and I know the trick to remove all distracting sounds transparently leaving only your voice perfect and natural sounding.

[@dannyarcher6370]

The wood knocking. Sort it out.

[@floodedcuts101]

You're a good looking man

[@paularyan4604]

I have kids in their 30s 2os and teens all of them would agree with Andrew the teens are the most against all these woke, gender stuff

[@LaJoBa1]

"Only a Sith speaks in Absolutes" Obi-Wan Kenobi 🤨

[@fuzzymath6240]

11:30

[@GlyndwrMeredith]

Marshall looking tidier these days.

[@elkabongg2716]

I would say at the level of theory and if you get into discussion of detail then most people will agree that much of trans and critical theory doesn't hold water. On the superficial level a significant majority go along with it. One reason is people like to be polite and even though it sounds a bit daft what is the harm it and just be kind and supportive. Then there is the potential embarrassment of being old fashioned and not up with the trend, and the more far out idea you subscribe to makes you feel and look insightful free thinking and radical even though its just regurgitating what the media has been feeding for years. It just all has a better feel good factor than plain logic and reality. You only need to consider the sheer amount of woke pumped out by the entertainment industry and see how many regularly buy into it all and see it as some sort of ideal world even if they don't accept that it is reflection of reality.

[@TheGWilliy]

14:00 but the BBC withdrew/left/quit Stonewall in Nov 2021? ALL the major papers pushed the story.

[@davidanderson9664]

I'd quite like to see the rainbow flag in Saudi Arabia! :-) D.A., NYC

[@theohopkins1903]

It's sad that the freedom of speech (so freedom of thought) is only found in right-leaning media these days. The Spectator and the like.

[@magnuskallas]

The idea of Biden launching a "Ministry of Truth" is straight out material of dark dystopian comedy. I've come to the point I don't get the lib-dem and woke as rational human beings anymore. ... Anyways, nice talk and greetings from Bethnal Green. EDIT: I also "like" the idea of banning based on "community standards"... Who's the community? Did someone snitch? Who's toe I stepped on? While I do agree certain topics might be best not approached in Social Media channels, we all know BLM, LGBT and ANTIFA can blabber anti-Western nonsense as much as they wish. Yes, the moderators are the neo-liberal...

[@tensevo]

It is ironic, that the only place where speech directly leads to violence, is within the state.

[@tensevo]

A military order, necessarily leads to violence, but a society media post, is totally disconnected from authority, so it has zero incitement to violence.

[@craigscott2315]

only issues i have with this is...gay means happy, not homosexual...and trans (suffix) from latin meaning beyond/ phobia from greek meaning fear, translated to common language..."beyond fear". Misinformation is defined as ignorance. Disinformation is the deliberate intent of manipulating information as the corporate kleptocratic lawyers illegally occupying legitimate temporal offices policies have done for centuries/millennia.

[@MrSimeonk]

Gay is a woman's name but I did not understand anything else you wrote so I have nothing more to say.

[@craigscott2315]

@@MrSimeonk I may have been a bit ott in previous response. Got used to being attacked for so long, i think on this occasion i have become the attacker? Your response isn't unreasonable i could have been more polite.

[@MrSimeonk]

@@craigscott2315 I was trying to be funny. I will get my coat lol. What you said was plenty good. Nothing wrong with a bit of etymology and/or history.

[@craigscott2315]

@@MrSimeonk Gaynor, a female name of welsh origin. Shortly after waking up i knew i recognised it as a name. Not sure what it means? I think i read the name in a king Arthur book as a child? Cheers Simeon. Still doesn't detract, being rude was my initial error in judgement.

[@symmetrie_bruch]

20:33 that certainly didn´t age well

[@perrych2012]

I think if you are fronting a talk show like this and can't speak more fluently then it might pay to write, and stick to, a script.

[@dgfox474]

Why are the elites doing this?

[@MrDenzal27]

spot on, gays people fought long and hard to be treated equally, not for "special treatment" like now. Being trans has nothing to do with being gay. I have been out with a trans guy, most of the relationships are seen as heterosexual.

[@kind-hearted-thievesjoe1512]

The reasons why Titania McGrath was created makes me think of Jordan Peel's brilliant horror film Get Out. There is a sequence in which the super progressive white father panders to his daughter's black boyfriend about the on-going struggles of the black community. The boyfriend winces his way through it, knowing full well that it is entirely performative and that beneath the façade is genuine prejudice. I feel like all the (so called) liberals that watched that film when it came out in 2017, totally understood the sinister element of the father and his unconscious bias. After George Floyd was murdered in 2020, all these same people took to social media and became the father.

[@defenderoftherealm410]

The elon musk/twitter thing wont make much real difference..nations have their own rules of what is acceptable to say online..look at the online safety bill.

[@waffleuk]

Good lord, stop banging whatever you're banging. It sounds like someone pinging a ruler on a desk.

[@afriedli]

Sorry, I can't take a guy with a ponytail seriously. I've got a prejudice when it comes to affectation, particularly in men.

[@MikeHunt-rw4gf]

Algorithm.

[@douglasfreeman3229]

Fish pie.

[@guff9567]

Doyle seems to be OK, so far

[@philltaylor8442]

People only say afensiv weards on Twitter. Mostly because they wouldn't say it infrunt of most of the people because they will never meet in ther lives! THERS a NAME for THOSE people! (COWARDS) we grow up with this kind of people WELL before Twitter CAME along only it called gossiping about one anuther!.People no what's an afensiv weards OR and THOSE who don't have lost touch with LIFE?.I allways put myself in the person's place before I write my opinion! But try not TOBE afensiv?.

[@artistphilb]

I have my doubts that Elon Musk is beyond manipulation as he is so rich, because his rocket company and Starlink project is heavily subsidised by the US government...

[@HagiaSophia1952]

ANDREW: The "belief perseverance" you cite as a negative function (5:00) within human discourse, might surely be levelled at a 'Theist' follower of Jesus of Nazareth, such as I, who defends his metaphysical theistic beliefs (including in a metaphysical resurrection), and the validity of the library of books we know as the Bible, as a source for learning about the God of Israel, in the face of the huge amount of scholarly biblical criticism, and advances in the physical sciences, which have taken place in the last two hundred years? Perhaps my 'educated' belief perseverance (I have studied Theology from all angles) is of a different nature to the one you envisage; which appears to stem from 'cognitive dissonance'? I do not accept the dogma that only what is physical and empirically-quantifiable is 'true' or 'real'. That way lie the evile of SCIENTISM: which has held this Nation captive since JOHNSON came into power. And we should be asking WHY he doesn't use all that power to address the very issues you raise here. Could he be a Globalist-Marxist.......at the top of the Tory Party? A fan of Klaus Schwab, perhaps?

[@pfcsantiago8852]

Would be fourth Reich.

[@whitesteamerstephens1379]

fancy mic, don't work though...boom boom boom, what was the content? got bored , good on comedy unleashed though...

[@julianshepherd2038]

A single person controlling what is said in the digital town square. What could possibly go wrong ? Will he be buying speakers Corner

[@hickster222]

Who is this person that will be controlling?

[@julianshepherd2038]

The owner, Mr Musk. Why do you think he is handing over 44 billion ?

[@hickster222]

He won't be controlling though. He says he wants to stop censoring and banning. The current ceo is doing the controlling.

[@nevbarnes1034]

@@julianshepherd2038 Will he be worse than the people who are already controlling Twitter? They have a proven record of leftist bias.

[@premabaul7570]

Quite a statement from a gay man .. that the flag changed from safety and comfort to a warning sign.

[@paulhubber9741]

Oh no it's the posh toff channel

[@douglasfreeman3229]

Andrew is an educated, articulate ex University tutor. Not the same thing as a Toff, you snob.

[@petercrossley1069]

Get a more coherent interviewer.

[@GaryParris]

wow really.. some of this was total rubbish even with the first 4mins oh boy

[@douglasfreeman3229]

How so?

[@GaryParris]

@@douglasfreeman3229 Elon musk is not a free speech absolutes, those complaining the most are the very ones who stop free speech, the hysteria is mostly right wing, the populist identity politics is completely projected as a result of correcting bad people about terrible things, they don't like it, the use of "its the left is the problem" is one echoed everywhere in right wing populism. Elon is a self serving capitalist, not a free speech warrior, influenced by other right wing populists around him, he's a known liar, as for others he mentioned early on etc is typical of the right wing populism, virtual signalling has always been part of corporate marketing, just as society moves forward, so does language.

[@guff9567]

I hope this Doyle ain't no jack boot stormtrooper like that Murray geezer

[@offshoretomorrow3346]

Sketch in a couple of things that make Murray a 'Nazi', for us? Nothing personal, but if you don't, we might assume you can't.

[@JayJay-wg5ex]

@@offshoretomorrow3346 the way he talks passionately about art

[@guff9567]

@@offshoretomorrow3346 It's the smell. One whiff and in run a mile.

[@guff9567]

@@JayJay-wg5ex "art"? Arian chintz I believe.

[@offshoretomorrow3346]

@@guff9567 Well, I'm certainly convinced. But rational thought and critical thinking are white supremacist concepts of course.

[@darianbalcom8777]

Andrew stop saying "trans rights"!